The number of returning starters per school for 2015 is released as tabulated by College Football Preseason. Players with considerable number of starts last season were counted (typically four or more). For special teams, only place kickers and punters are counted. There may be more than one starter returning per position due to players splitting starts. Discretion is used.

The Projected Top 128 Records are released. There are 81 schools picked to become bowl eligible this season. I did the projections with in mind that there could be a margin of error by two wins, give or take. Projected records are according to the season previews.

The Projected Top 128 is based on final season standings and strength of schedule along with style, position match ups, rivalries and home/away games. The CFP Top 128 is simply based on which teams I perceive as the best coming into the 2015 season and is not a prediction of the final season rankings and it is not based on strength of schedule.

Most traditional preseason rankings are a quasi of a prediction on how many wins a team could garner in the upcoming season and the recent history of the program. I did the two top 128 rankings to show how my ratings differ; for example, Ole Miss is ranked No. 6 in the CFP Top 128, but tied for No. 22 in the Projected Top 128. The Rebels, projected with nine wins, will likely end up with anywhere from 7-to-11 victories on the season so don’t be surprised if they pull off the upset as SEC West Division Champions.

Projected Top 128

*Projected conference championRanked by number of wins and then listed in alphabetical order.